In
this talk, I will summarize the recent research on synthesis, characterization
and applications of two-dimensional nanomaterials in my group. I will introduce
the synthesis and characterization of novel low-dimensional nanomaterials, such
as graphene-based composites including
the first-time synthesized hexagonal-close packed (hcp) Au nanosheets (AuSSs)
on graphene oxide, surface-induced phase transformation of AuSSs from hcp to
face-centered cubic (fcc) structures, the synthesis of ultrathin fcc Au@Pt and
Au@Pd rhombic nanoplates through the epitaxial growth of Pt and Pd on the hcp
AuSSs, respectively, the first-time synthesis of 4H hexagonal phase Au nanoribbons
(NRBs) and their phase transformation to fcc Au RNBs as well as the epitaxial
growth of Ag, Pt and Pd on 4H Au NRBs to form the 4H/fcc Au@Ag, Au@Pt and Au@Pd
core–shell NRBs, and the epitaxial growth of metal and semiconductor
nanostructures on solution-processable transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)
nanoshees at ambient conditions, single- or few-layer metal dichalcogenide nanosheets
and hybrid nanomaterials, the large-amount, uniform, ultrathin metal sulfide and
selenide nanocrystals, other 2D nanomaterials, nanodots prepared from 2D nanomaterials,
and self-assembled 2D nanosheets and chiral nanofibers from ultrathin low-dimensional
nanomaterials. Then I will demonstrate the applications of these novel
nanomaterials in chemical and bio-sensors, solar cells, water splitting, hydrogen
evolution reaction, electric devices, memory devices, conductive electrodes, other
clean energy, etc.

Dr. Hua Zhang was promoted to a tenured
Associate Professor on March 1, 2011, and Full Professor on Sept. 1, 2013. His research
is highly interdisciplinary. His current research interests focus on the crystal
phase engineering of nanomaterials and controlled epitaxial growth of
heterostructures, including the synthesis of ultrathin two-dimensional nanomaterials
(e.g. metal nanosheets, graphene, metal dichalcogenides, metal-organic
frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, etc.), novel metallic and semiconducting
nanomaterials and their hybrid composites, for applications in nano- and
biosensors, clean energy, (opto-)electronic devices, catalysis, and water
remediation, etc.